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Photos v Wales 2025

England Men

15 Mar 2025 | 5 min |

Dominant England defeat Wales in Cardiff in final Six Nations game

England put in a dominant display as they scored 10 tries to beat Wales comprehensively to finish second in the 2025 Guinness Men's Six Nations. Maro Itoje, Tom Roebuck, Tommy Freeman, Chandler Cunningham-South (2), Will Stuart, Alex Mitchell, Henry Pollock (2) and Joe Heyes all scored tries and 10 points from Fin Smith's boot and eight from Marcus Smith saw England win 14-68. Wales scored through Ben Thomas (2), with Gareth Anscombe and Jarrod Evans converting.

England began at a pace befitting of the occasion as Fin Smith found an excellent touch from an early penalty. From the five-metre lineout Tom Curry wrapped around and created momentum, before Itoje picked from the base to power over. Fin Smith then converted for a 0-7 lead with just two minutes on the clock.

Five minutes later Wales looked to have hit back as Blair Murray scooped up a loose ball to run in from 45 metres, but Tomos Williams was offside in the build up and the try was chalked off. 

Soon after England showed good strength to win a scrum penalty and Fin Smith found a deep touch again. From the lineout Elliot Daly carried hard up the middle and a few phases later Fin Smith fizzed a pass to Roebuck who reached out to score on his first international start. Fin Smith added the extras to give England a 14-point lead 10 minutes in. 

Early photos from Wales v England
Tom Roebuck reaches out for his second England try.

10 minutes later, Murray almost broke free thanks to a clever chip, but a brilliant tap tackle by Luke Cowan-Dickie allowed England to reorganise.

As the game approached the half-hour mark, Wales won a penalty at the breakdown and Anscombe kicked for touch. They won the lineout and a few phases later Thomas went over, before Anscombe converted to make it 7-14. 

From the restart, Ben Curry charged down Anscombe’s clearance to give England a platform in the Welsh half. Soon after, a pinpoint cross-field kick from Fin Smith found Roebuck who was brought down just short of the line. 

However, a few phases later Fin Smith’s well-timed pass put Freeman through a gap to become the first Englishman to score in each game of a Six Nations campaign. His Northampton Saints teammate converted again to restore the 14-point lead. 

England continued to show their ambition to score and just a couple of minutes later Cunningham-South – who had replaced the injured Ollie Chessum – crashed over from close range for the bonus-point try. Fin Smith converted to put his side 7-28 ahead. 

On the stroke of half-time the ball ricocheted off Ellis Genge’s head and Fraser Dingwall regathered to find Ben Curry on his inside. Curry was tackled short, but England recycled quickly for Stuart to score on his 50th appearance for his country. Fin Smith was unable to convert, but England took a 7-33 lead into the changing rooms. 

First half photos v Wales
Will Stuart scores on his 50th England appearance.

Five minutes into the second half, Wales found themselves with a scrum five metres from England’s line, but once the ball was out Ben Curry made a fantastic steal to keep the hosts out. 

Shortly after, Wales were back in England’s 22, but Ellis Mee’s offload was knocked on over the line and England held out again. 

Wales continued to threaten, but 15 minutes into the half the ball was headed once again, this time by Daly, and Mitchell hacked ahead to score and Fin Smith converted. 

More photos from Wales v England
Alex Mitchell kicks ahead for his second-half try.

With an hour played, England returned to the opposition 22 and won successive penalties, before an excellent pass from George Ford found debutant Pollock on the wing to score. Marcus Smith then converted to put England 7-47 ahead. 

Steve Borthwick’s side showed their attacking intent by scoring almost immediately after. Cunningham-South stole the ball at the lineout and Tom Willis broke through the Welsh defence, before offloading off the deck to Heyes for his first international try. Marcus Smith added the extras to make it 7-54. 

As the clock ticked towards 80, Wales were determined to get a consolation try and did so through Thomas, who was played in by Evans who then converted.

However, England were desperate to have the last say as Ford found Pollock again, this time on a smart inside line, to charge over for his second of the game. Marcus Smith then converted to make it 14-61. 

Even then, England found themselves surging into the Welsh 22 as the clock ticked over and Cunningham-South powered onto Jack van Poortvliet’s pass to score. Marcus Smith continued his perfect record off the tee to make it 14-68 and seal victory. 

England were momentarily top of the table before France's win over Scotland, but ultimately the team had to settle for second as they finished just one point behind France in the final 2025 Six Nations standings. 

Photos v Wales 2025
Henry Pollock scored twice on his senior international debut.

Watch the highlights

England team
15
autumn-men-headshot-2024
Marcus
Smith
Harlequins
Caps
43
Age
26
14
Tom Roebuck Profile Photo
Tom
Roebuck
Sale Sharks
Caps
3
Age
24
13
autumn-men-headshot-2024
Tommy
Freeman
Northampton Saints
Caps
19
Age
24
12
Fraser Dingwall Profile Photo
Fraser
Dingwall
Northampton Saints
Caps
3
Age
25
11
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Elliot
Daly
Saracens
Caps
72
Age
32
10
autumn-men-headshot-2024
Fin
Smith
Northampton Saints
Caps
10
Age
22
9
Alex Mitchell Profile Photo
Alex
Mitchell
Northampton Saints
Caps
22
Age
27
1
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Ellis
Genge
Bristol Bears
Caps
70
Age
30
2
autumn-men-headshot-2024
Luke
Cowan-Dickie
Sale Sharks
Caps
48
Age
31
3
autumn-men-headshot-2024
Will
Stuart
Bath Rugby
Caps
49
Age
28
4
Captain icon autumn-men-headshot-2024
Maro
Itoje
Saracens
Caps
92
Age
30
5
Ollie Davies
Ollie
Davies
Sale Sharks
Caps
0
Age
18
6
ans-headshot
Tom
Curry
Sale Sharks
Caps
60
Age
26
7
ans-headshot
Ben
Curry
Sale Sharks
Caps
10
Age
26
8
autumn-men-headshot-2024
Ben
Earl
Saracens
Caps
41
Age
27

Replacements

16
autumn-men-headshot-2024
Jamie
George
Saracens
Caps
100
Age
34
17
autumn-men-headshot-2024
Fin
Baxter
Harlequins
Caps
10
Age
23
18
Joe Heyes Profile Photo
Joe
Heyes
Leicester Tigers
Caps
11
Age
25
19
autumn-men-headshot-2024
Chandler
Cunningham-South
Harlequins
Caps
14
Age
21
20
Henry Pollock headshot
Henry
Pollock
Northampton Saints
Caps
0
Age
20
21
Tom Willis headshot
Tom
Willis
Saracens
Caps
5
Age
26
22
autumn-men-headshot-2024
Jack
van Poortvliet
Leicester Tigers
Caps
17
Age
23
23
ans-headshot
George
Ford
Sale Sharks
Caps
98
Age
31